THE 2018 AFL National Draft was a fruitful one for Calder Cannons-aligned EDFL talent.
Three former EDFL juniors were snapped up in today’s draft, including Strathmore’s Rhylee West (Western Bulldogs), former Maribyrnong Park and Aberfeldie junior Jack Bytel (St Kilda) and 2016 Keilor senior premiership player, Curtis Taylor (North Melbourne).
It was meant to be. #AFLDraft pic.twitter.com/n4MUzLfPa5
— Western Bulldogs (@westernbulldogs) November 23, 2018
All three had to wait until Day 2 of the draft, with West (son of Bulldogs great, Scott West) the first player to land a home at Pick 26.
The father-son prospect played all of his junior football at Strathmore and got his first taste of representative football in 2014 with the EDFL’s Under 14 Division 1 Interleague team.
As a 16-year-old, West (pictured left), played his one and only senior game with the Mores in Round 18, 2016 against Pascoe Vale in Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division.
From there, the now 18-year-old spent two seasons with the Calder Cannons and represented the Big V for Vic Metro on four occasions earlier this year.
A prolific ball winner and the @CalderCannonsFC co-captain.
— St Kilda FC (@stkildafc) November 23, 2018
Welcome to the Saints, Jack!#AFLDraft pic.twitter.com/MmNw1cl2EV
Bytel was next to go at Pick 41.
The new Saint commenced his footy career with Maribyrnong Park back in 2008 before crossing over to Aberfeldie in 2013.
Bytel (pictured centre) also played rep footy for the EDFL at Under 14 level before joining the Cannons in 2017, where he played 16 TAC Cup games in two seasons.
While injury curtailed much of his 2018 season, Bytel did play three Vic Metro games this year.
The first message from Curtis Taylor! 👋 #AFLDraft #BeAShinboner pic.twitter.com/lZMTOSDW5u
— North Melbourne (@NMFCOfficial) November 23, 2018
Finally, just five picks later, Curtis Taylor heard his name read out at Pick 46, headed for North Melbourne.
Taylor (picutred right) started his football journey in the RDFL with the Sunbury Lions and Rupertswood before crossing over to Keilor in 2009.
The forward/midfielder kicked three goals in his three EDFL junior interleague appearances back in 2014 and then only two years later, found himself playing senior footy with the Blues.
Taylor made his senior debut in Round 17, 2016 and never lost his spot in Keilor’s 22.
The next three games, including Round 18 and two finals, were all against Aberfeldie, and a 16-year-old Taylor certainly made the most of his opportunity.
Taylor kicked at least one goal in each of those three games, including a crucial second-quarter goal in the 2016 Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division Grand Final.
Following his 2016 premiership success with Keilor, Taylor took his talents to the Calder Cannons and this year donned the Big V on four occasions.
Meanwhile, Nick Hind was another of today’s draftees with an EDFL connection.
As an Essendon VFL-listed player, Hind joined Keilor in 2017 and played two senior games for the club, ranking among the Blues’ better players on both occasions.
The mature-aged defender was taken at Pick 54 by St Kilda.
